Rhythm traps

ABSTRACT

A rhythm device comprising two resiliently interconnected shafts capable of relative movement between two positions. Noise-making means such as cymbals are mounted on each shaft such that sound is produced at one of the two aforesaid positions.

States Patent Hall [s41 RHYTHM TRAPS [72] Inventor: Jack G. Hall, 15 Mississaga Street East, Orillia, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: March 27, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 238,546

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data NOV. 30, 1971 Canada ..l28,957

[ 52] US. Cl. ..84/17(l, 84/402, 84/411 [51] Int. Cl. ..Gl(ld 15/00 [58] Field of Search ..84/l70, 402, 406,411, 418

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,156,711 5/1939 Watschingeretal....84/l70X Nov. 28, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 393 1/1889 Switzerland ..s4/170 627,090 2/1936 Germany ..s4/411 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerJohn F. Gonzales Attomeyl-Iarvey I. Marshall et a1.

[ ABSTRACT A rhythm device comprising two resiliently interconnected shafts capable of relative movement between two positions. Noise-making means such as cymbals are mounted on each shaft such that sound is produced at one of the two aforesaid positions.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures RHYTHM TRAPS This invention relates to a musical instrument and more particularly to a sound producing device wherein two slidably engageable shafts are interconnected for relative movement capable of effecting contact between opposed shaft-mounted noisemaking means.

Prior shaft-type rhythm devices provide a single shaft having astopper member secured near the lower end of the shaft. Two clappe'rs having central shaft receiving apertures are provided on the shaft above the stopper. The clapper remote from the stopper is fixed to the shaft and the clapper nearestthe stopper is free for movement along the shaft between the fixed clapper and the stoppermember. Noise is produced when the I free clapper strikes the fixed clapper.

The mechanical construction'of the present invention enables a musician to better follow'a musical beat since the device does not utilize a clapper or cymbal which is always free for movement along a shaft.

The instantinvention provides a. sound producing rhythm device of a type comprising two slidably interconnected shafts which are capable of relative movement between two positions. Noisemaking means generally percussive, are mounted on each shaft so that contact is made between respective noisemaking means at one of the two aforesaid positions. Additional noisemaking means such as tambourines, cow-bells, sleighbells, horns and the like may also be fixed to at least one of the shafts.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general frontal view of a rhythm device of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1, and is partially sectioned and partially cut-away to show the interrelationship of the shafts.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a rhythm device having a first shaft 1 and, slidably engaged therein, an interconnected second shaft 2. A longitudinally extending slot 3 is provided in shaft 1 near the end associated with shaft 2. A first arm 4 extends horizontally through slot 3 and is fixed to shaft 2. While the interactionbetween shafts 1 and 2 is shown in detail in FIG. 2, it can be seen from FIG. 1, that the distance of relative movement of shafts 1 and 2 is dictatedby the length of slot 3, due to the presence of arm 4. A cymbal 6 is fixed to the end of arm 4 remote from shaft 2. A

second horizontal arm 5 is fixed to shaft 1 at a point below slot 3, and a second cymbal 7 is fixed to the end of arm 5 remote from shaft 1. As shown, arms 4 and 5 and attached respective cymbals 6 and 7 are oriented such that in one predetermined position of shaft 2 relative to shaft 1, contact is made between cymbals 6 and 7. Hand grips 8 and 9 are provided on first shaft 1 to facilitate usage of the device. A rubber foot 10 is provided on the end of the shaft 2 remote from shaft 1.

Additionally illustrated in FIG. 1 are ancillary sound producing members which are secured to shaft 1 Included in the foregoing are tambourine l1, horn l2, sleighbells 13 and cowbell 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2, wherein the slidable engagement between the interconnected shafts 1 and 2 is more specifically illustrated. Againshown is shaft 1 and, slidably engaged therein, an interconnected shaft 2. A longitudinally extending slot 3 is provided in shaft 1 near the end thereof associated with shaft 2. A

second longitudinally extending slot 3', of dimensions similar to slot 3, is provided in shaft 1 in a position opposed 180 to the position of slot 3, and oriented such that slots 3 and 3 are spaced the same distance from the end of shaft 1.

A first arm 4, havingin this instance a threaded end portion 15, extends through slot 3, through a passage 16 provided within second shaft 2 and through slot 3. Nuts 17 and 17 threaded upon end portion 15 firmly fix arm 4 to shaft 2. It is easily seen that when arm 4 is mounted on shaft 2 the twoshafts 1 and 2 are positively interconnected and that the distance of relative movement between shafts 1 and 2 is initially, at least, governed by the length of slot 3.

Arm 4 is mounted on shaft 2 at such a point that when shafts l and 2 are in full extension, the inner end of shaft 2 remains above the top of slot 3.

A stop member 18, in this instance a nut and bolt extending through shaft 1, is provided in shaft 1 at a point removed'from and above the inner end of shaft 2 when interconnected shafts land 2am in contracted relation.

A spring 19, or other suitable means, is provided between the inner end of shaft 2 and the stop member 18 so as to bias interconnectedshafts l and 2 to normally assume a fully extended relationship.

A second arm 5 is mounted, for example, by means of spot-welding, on shaft 1 at a point below slot 3. A

first cymbal 6 and a second cymbal 7 are mounted on v those ends of arms 4 and 5, respectively, remote from the shafts 2 and 1. Arms 4 and 5 and attached respective cymbals 6 and 7 are oriented such that in one position of shaft 2 relative to shaft 1, which position is generally complete or near complete extension, contact is made between cymbals 6 and 7. The relative movement between shafts 1 and 2 is thusly governed between, on the lower end, contact of cymbals 6 and 7 and, on the upper end, by the top of slot 3.

Other features such as the handgrips 8 and 9, rubber boot l0 and ancillary sound producing devices illustrated in FIG. 1 are also illustrated in FIG. 2.

In operation of the present rhythm device, the musician, by means of shaft 1, presses the footed end of the device down on a floor or another suitable surface so that the two shafts 1 and 2 assume a contracted position with respect to each other. This causes the cymbals to assume an open or spaced-apart relationship. When the musician releases the pressure as by lifting, the biasing means 19 forces shafts l and 2 to revert to the extended position with respect to one another and hence effect contact of cymbals 6 and 7.

It can be seen that by alternately pressing down against a surface and then lifting the device by means of grips 8 or 9 or other suitable handholds on shaft 1, it is easy to play the cymbals in time with a musical beat. The ancillary sound producing devices mounted on shaft 1 enable a single musician to readily complement a band with a wide variety of sound effects.

There are many modifications which could be made within the scope of this invention. Any number of different types of percussive devices, other than cymbals, could be mounted on arms 4 and 5. The aforementioned arms can be mounted upon the respective shafts by suitable means other than nuts-on-a-threaded arm or spot-welding. Shaft 1 need not have two slots 3 and 3' as, for example, a single slot could be provided and the arm 4 merely screwed into or welded onto shaft 2. Additionally, arm could be mounted on shaft 1 at a point above slot 3 so that the cymbals in the preferred embodiment would normally be biased to an open or spaced-apart relationship. I

This invention should not be limited to the particular details described and illustrated but only to its broad spirit and scope.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument comprising a first shaft having at one end an interconnected second shaft longitudinally slidably engaged therewith for relative movement between a first and second position, at least one longitudinally extending slot provided in'said first shaft, a first arm fixed to said first shaft, first noisemaking means fixed to said first arm, a second arm extending through said slot and fixed to said second shaft, second noisemaking means fixed to said second arm and said first and second noisemaking means oriented for mutual contact at said first position.

2. The musical instrument of claim 1, wherein said noisemaking means are cymbals.

3. The musical instrument of claim 1, including resilient means for biasing said shafts to a normal rest position.

4. The musical instrument of claim 3, wherein the normal rest position constitutes mutual contact of the two noisemaking means.

5. The musical instrument of claim 4 wherein said noisemaking means are cymbals.

6. The musical instrument of claim 3, wherein the biasing means is a spring.

7. The musical instrument of claim 6, wherein said noisemaking means are cymbals.

, 8. The musical instrument of claim 1, including an object engaging foot mounted on the free end of said second shaft for actuation of said shafts for relative movement between said first and second positions.

9. The musical instrument of claim 8 including resilient spring means for biasing said shafts to a normal rest position which is one of said two positions.

10. A musical instrument comprising a first shafthaving at one end an interconnected second shaft longitudinally slidably engaged therein for relative movement between a first and second position, at least one longitudinally extended slot provided in said first shaft, a first arm fixed to said first shaft, a first cymbal fixed to the free end of said first arm, a second arm extending through said slot and fixed to said second shaft, a second cymbal fixed to the free end of said second arm, said second shaft having an object engaging foot mounted on the free end thereof for actuation of said shafts for relative movement between said two positions, a spring mounted between the inner end of said second shaft and a position in said first shaft removed from the inner end of said second shaft for biasing said shafts to a normal rest position, and said first and second cymbals oriented for mutual contact at said first position. 

1. A musical instrument comprising a first shaft having at one end an interconnecteD second shaft longitudinally slidably engaged therewith for relative movement between a first and second position, at least one longitudinally extending slot provided in said first shaft, a first arm fixed to said first shaft, first noisemaking means fixed to said first arm, a second arm extending through said slot and fixed to said second shaft, second noisemaking means fixed to said second arm and said first and second noisemaking means oriented for mutual contact at said first position.
 2. The musical instrument of claim 1, wherein said noisemaking means are cymbals.
 3. The musical instrument of claim 1, including resilient means for biasing said shafts to a normal rest position.
 4. The musical instrument of claim 3, wherein the normal rest position constitutes mutual contact of the two noisemaking means.
 5. The musical instrument of claim 4 wherein said noisemaking means are cymbals.
 6. The musical instrument of claim 3, wherein the biasing means is a spring.
 7. The musical instrument of claim 6, wherein said noisemaking means are cymbals.
 8. The musical instrument of claim 1, including an object engaging foot mounted on the free end of said second shaft for actuation of said shafts for relative movement between said first and second positions.
 9. The musical instrument of claim 8 including resilient spring means for biasing said shafts to a normal rest position which is one of said two positions.
 10. A musical instrument comprising a first shaft having at one end an interconnected second shaft longitudinally slidably engaged therein for relative movement between a first and second position, at least one longitudinally extended slot provided in said first shaft, a first arm fixed to said first shaft, a first cymbal fixed to the free end of said first arm, a second arm extending through said slot and fixed to said second shaft, a second cymbal fixed to the free end of said second arm, said second shaft having an object engaging foot mounted on the free end thereof for actuation of said shafts for relative movement between said two positions, a spring mounted between the inner end of said second shaft and a position in said first shaft removed from the inner end of said second shaft for biasing said shafts to a normal rest position, and said first and second cymbals oriented for mutual contact at said first position. 